The Wasp — 1881 — page 435: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page consists primarily of a lengthy literary essay titled "With the Damned," signed by H. P. Lovecraft and dated "East Otsego, May, 1881" (though this date appears inconsistent with Lovecraft's known life). The text is philosophical autobiography, discussing the author's experience of suffering, consciousness, and existential alienation—describing himself as inhabiting a world of pain distinct from ordinary human existence. The page is **not a political cartoon**. It's a serious literary contribution to *The Wasp* magazine. No caricatures, satirical figures, or political references are present. The content is introspective rather than satirical, making it atypical for a satirical publication but not uncommon for magazines of that era to include diverse literary offerings alongside humor.